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(Model.)

- W. P. DODSON.

BlotterIv No. 228,808. 8 Patented .lu-ne 15, 1880.

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NPETERS. FHOT0L|THOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFrrcE.

VILSON I). DODSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO ALEXANDER H. EGE, OF MEOHANIOSBURG, PA.

BLOTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters atent No. 228,808, dated June 15, 1880.

` Application filcd May 8, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom tt may conccm Be it known that I, WILsoN P. DoDsoN, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Peunsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Blotters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a blotter made by i adj ustably securin g absorbent paper to a :o block of wood or other suitable material by means of a fiat spring or springs on the under side, either bent to conform to the curve of said under side when said spring or Springs extend more or less over the length thereof, or practically rectilinear when coverin g only a longitudinal segment of the surface of said under side, said spring or springs being held in place by a screw, screws, or other similar device.

Figure 1 shows the under side of the blotter provided with two springs for securing the blotting-paper, and extending more or less over the length of said under side. Fig. 2 shows a modification consisting of one longitudinal spring. Fig. 3 shows another modification, in which the spring or Springs are more or less rectilinear and cover only alongitudinal segment of said under side. Fig. 4 is a side view of a modification consisting of an elastic spring or clamp at one end of the under side, while that of theotherend is rigid. Fig. 5 is a central transverse section of the blotter with the absorbent paper in place. Fig. 6 is a side view with the absorbent paper in place. Fig. 7 shows a side view of a modification with a rigid clamp or slot at each end of the blotter.

A represents the wooden block; a, the fiat spring or Springs; b, the screws; c, the bibulous paper; e, the slot.

I make the supporting-block A, preferably of wood, in the shape externally of a semiellipse with the plane uppermost.

The spring is bent to conform to the curve of the under side of the block when said spring extends more or less over the length of said under side; or when the spring or springs cover only a segment or segments of the longitudinal surface of said under or convex side, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the

area covered by the spring or springs may be so limited that it or they may be practically rectilinear throughout its or their entire surface. In either'case the outer ends of said spring or springs exert a sufficient pressure upon the outer extremities of said under side of the block to hold the absorbent paper securely against the same, and thus perform the function of clamps, sufficiently yielding, however, to allow the ready removal of the soiled paper for the reception of clean.

In practice I find it suffioient for the purposes aforesaid to have but one of the terminal clamps elastic, while the other may be entirely rigid, and at the same time composed of a different material than that of the clastic clamp. For instance, the latter may be of metal and the former or rigid one of wood, and vice versa. Or, again, if need be, I can dispense entirely with the use of elastic clamps and make both clamps rigid. Both of these forms are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7.

In either case said rigid clamp or clamps may be either glued fast to one end or both ends of said convex side, or it or they may be homogeneous or continuous with the material of the block, and thus wrought out by the same operation and at the same time, if needbe, as that by which the block is turned or wrought out, and thus supply the desired function of a rigid clamp or clamps, as aforesaid, by means of a fixed slot or slots. Should, however, but one rigid clamp or slot be used at one end of the block, the use of 'an elastic spring at the other end will afford a variable slot, as it were, more 8 5 or less distended, according to the amount of resistance oifered to the clamping power of the elastic springor clamp by the absorbent paper interposed. In this latter form, in order to place the absorbent paper upon the block for use, I first pass the end thereof into the slot under the rigid clamp, (shown in Fig. 4,) and the other end of the paper is then drawn tight and passed under the elastic clamp at the other end of the block, by which it is held firmlyin place.

In Fig. 2 is shown, in dotted lines, modified forms of the securing-clamps, in which the` ends assume different shapes, as desired, either to facilitate the removal and replacement of Ioo the paper or to guard against tearing the same when in use. The same modifications may also be applied to Figs. 3 and 4.

In the sides of the block A, I make grooves to serve as finger-holds, and thus dispense with the knobs generally placed on the top of the blotters for that purpose, and provide my device with a smooth upper surface. This surface may be used for advertising purposes by printing or otherwise securing the adven tisement on it.

As blotters have heretofore been construeted they have been comparatively expensive. 1 have made my device so simple and of such inexpensive materials that its cost will be but nominal; and While it Will make an attractive article which advertisers can readily afford to give away, it will be, from its nature, one that will be preserved, and always where it Will do theI most good as an advertisement, as well as for the purpose for which it was Originally intended.

I claim- I 1. A blotter consisting of a semi-ellipseshaped block, A, having` secured to it a flat spring or springs as clamps to press the absorbent paper securely 'against said convex surface of the block, substantially as described.

2. The blotter-holder consisting of the block 

